The morning mist had yet to fully clear.
An imposing blackwood carriage drawn by two horses stood before the gates of Konoha's South Street Special Economic Zone.
Brass capped the carriage's four corners, and thick waterproof oilcloth covered its roof.
Its wheels were made from shock-absorbing solid wood supplied exclusively to the Daimyo's Residence, giving it a smooth, light ride.
Uchiha Yashiro sat on the left side of the driver's bench, holding the whip.
Uchiha Itachi, dressed in a lightweight Konoha Military Police Force uniform, sat quietly on the other side.
Chikage reclined comfortably against the cushions inside, with freshly baked osmanthus cakes on the small redwood table before him.
He held a specially authorized document signed by the Land of Fire's Daimyo's Internal Affairs Ministry.
The document bore a grandiose title.
"Official dispatch concerning the wartime quartermaster general's field investigation into supply losses at the front."
Yashiro turned his head and spoke softly through the carriage curtain.
"Deputy Captain, we're about to pass through the Land of Fire's border checkpoint."
"The Anbu and clan ninja mobilized by the Hokage Building ran there on foot overnight."
"Won't we stand out too much, arriving in a carriage?"
Chikage swallowed his pastry and leisurely wiped the corner of his mouth.
"Stand out how?"
"We're here on official business, carrying a document from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"This is a proper official inspection."
"The Daimyo's Internal Affairs Ministry allocated our travel allowance in full. Surely we can't measure the countryside with our own two feet."
Leaning against his pillow, Chikage casually opened the system interface in his mind.
A pale yellow application box appeared on the panel.
``` [Applying for wartime special assignment check-in status...]
[Location assessment: Eastern coastal defense battlefront.]
[Danger level: Extreme.]
[High-risk combat zone travel allowance approved!]
[During this